‘Stranger Things’ Actress Jennifer Marshall, 44, Says Had She Worked on the Show While Battling Cancer, She Could’ve Gotten a ‘Mental and Emotional Uplift’ During Treatment
‘Stranger Things’ Actress Jennifer Marshall, 44, Says Had She Worked on the Show While Battling Cancer, She Could’ve Gotten a ‘Mental and Emotional Uplift’ During Treatment
“Stranger Things” actress Jennifer Marshall says missing season five while recovering from stage 3 melanoma was emotionally difficult, especially because returning to work could have supported her health insurance and sense of normalcy.
“I went through 14 months of treatment. I had infusions every 3 weeks, and I had CT scans every 3 months. And so now I’m on CT scans every six months to ensure that I’m still in remission,” Marshall explained.
Melanoma is considered one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer because of its ability to spread to other parts of the body. It starts in the cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. The cells change, which allows them to spread to other organs.
“Patients at risk are patients who are fair-skinned, with blond hair and blue eyes, patients who may have a family history of melanoma, or patients who have what we call dysplastic nevus syndrome, who are just covered in thousands and thousands of moles,” Dr. Anna Pavlick, a medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, explains.
Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious. The most important thing to look out for when finding melanoma in its early stages is a new spot on your skin or a spot changing in size, shape, or color.
As “Stranger Things” ramps up a major marketing push, cast member Jennifer Marshall, 44, is reflecting on the season she had to miss while undergoing cancer treatment — and the complicated feelings that came with stepping away.
“I had cancer, I get it. But I was in remission during the shooting of season five. Shooting would have helped me obtain my health insurance through the union,” she shared in an Instagram post.
Marshall was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, in 2021, forcing her to pause her work on the hit series that helped launch her career. She remains disappointed she couldn’t return as Susan Hargrove, the recurring character she’s portrayed in previous seasons.
“It would have helped me not only financially, but would have been a mental and emotional uplift after battling cancer for almost two years. Either way, no one is entitled to a role, cancer or not,” she told People magazine. “My heart remains grateful, and I will always give those involved in the decision-making the benefit of the doubt.”
Jennifer Marshall pictured on November 27, 2022, in Hollywood, California (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)
Marshall’s reflections highlight something many cancer patients understand deeply: staying connected to familiar routines — work, hobbies, weekly gatherings — can provide a powerful sense of normalcy. In the midst of so much upheaval, those anchors can remind patients that despite a diagnosis, they are still themselves.
Marshall’s cancer journey began after she noticed her hair was thinning. She went to see her dermatologist, who suggested that she undergo a full-body scan.
“During the full body scan, I mentioned a spot on my foot that itched a little bit and seemed to have a small, hard nodule underneath. At the time, I had chalked it up to a bug bite,” Marshall explained.
However, the spot was no bug bite. Further tests revealed it was a stage one melanoma on her foot.
Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs. You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. However, areas with little to no sun exposure may also get melanoma, such as your palms, feet, eyes, mouth, or under your nails.
“The surgeon called me. He explained that due to the location of the cancer, he may have to take tissue from my thigh to use as a skin graft. I jokingly told him to take the fat from my right thigh, as it was slightly fatter. I think my humor was unsettling to him, but I couldn’t help it. I was facing the big ‘C,’ and instead of sorrow, I chose humor,” Marshall said.
She prepared for surgery in early January 2021. However, just before the procedure, she learned her cancer was more advanced than previously thought and was in stage 3.
“When he gently revealed that it had spread, the sounds around me became muffled, everything seemed to move in slow motion, and I experienced tunnel vision. I gasped and choked out, “But you said…you said that there was only a 3 percent chance.” He offered a slight pause and replied, “I’m so sorry, Jennifer. You’re my three percenter,” Marshall said.
With the thought of her children and husband in mind, she prepared herself for more than a year of cancer treatment.
Jennifer Marshall pictured at the 90th Anniversary of the Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 27, 2022 (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
“The next 15 months were grueling. There is no other word to explain it. Every cancer survivor reading this is probably nodding their head in agreement,” she said.
“I had infusions every 3 weeks, and I had CT scans every 3 months. And so now I’m on CT scans every six months to ensure that I’m still in remission,” Marshall explained on the American Grit Podcast.
Last year, Marshall said she was “incredibly blessed” to have survived cancer and be in remission. “For a time, I wasn’t sure if I would have made it to 43,” Marshall added in a Facebook post.
A Willingness to Work During Cancer Treatment
“I feared losing acting opportunities and not being able to pay my mortgage. During all this, I was in the middle of shooting season four of Stranger Things. When I showed up to shoot, a few people subtly commented about how much weight I had lost, not realizing the reason why,” Marshall said.
Fortunately for Marshall, although cancer treatment was a grueling experience, her castmates and production crew were completely understanding and willing to make her life easier in any way they could.
“I gave my shooting availability around my scans, treatment, and how I was feeling. My loving and wonderful makeup artist, Diahann, covered up my hives with makeup. My crew allowed me to doze between setups. They consistently checked in with me to make sure I felt okay and provided transportation to and from Burbank shoots because I was too fatigued to safely drive,” Marshall explained.
When she experienced hair loss during treatment, she wore a wig.
“Many people stop working or can’t work during treatment, and I completely understand why. One thing they don’t often tell you about treatment? The side effects,” Marshall lamented.
WATCH: Will my cancer get me fired?
“We always encourage people to continue to work if they can,” saysSarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center.
“I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”
Stapleton adds that if you’re able to work, you’ll be busy, and you may not worry all the time about how your treatment is going.
Sometimes, cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people for work can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
It’s important to talk with your doctor before continuing to work during treatment. Ask your physician what you can and cannot do to avoid disrupting ongoing treatment.
Remember, sometimes cancer treatment can cause fatigue, leaving you unable to fulfill your duties as you once could.
Fortunately, some on-the-job accommodations can make working during cancer treatment a little easier.
Laurie Ostacher, a behavioral health clinician at Stanford Health Care, recommends cancer patients talk with their employer about accommodations they may need upon returning to work.
“Patients need to let their employer know [they’re] going to need some flexibility… Because there are going to be days when you’re not as energetic or feeling as well as other days,” Ostacher explained.
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. You’ll want to watch them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
WATCH: How do you perform a skin check using the ABCDEs?
SurvivorNet experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
The most important thing to look out for when it comes to finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color, SurvivorNet’s medical experts say.
Treatment options for melanoma include targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which give people a better chance of living a long and healthy life than ever before. If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, there’s a good chance surgery will be the treatment your doctor recommends.
Cancer removal usually leads to a cure in the early stages of the disease. After surgery, the removed tissue and lymph nodes are examined to measure the melanoma and determine if it has clear margins. Clear margins mean the cells around the area of tissue that was removed don’t contain any melanoma. When no cancer cells are left around the removed area, your cancer is less likely to return.
For melanoma patients who need additional treatment after surgery, they are likely to receive adjuvant therapy (treatments administered after surgery). Adjuvant therapy is designed to improve outcomes and decrease the risk of recurrence.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests the following to help you on your cancer journey.
What type of skin cancer do I have?
What treatment options exist for my type of melanoma?
Will insurance cover this treatment?
Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense for me?
What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
